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rocmoc's avatar
rocmoc
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013

1st trip towing Ford C-Max Hybrid, GREAT!

We are back home from a two week 1,200 mile trip pulling our C-Max as our toad behind our Motorhome. Everything went GREAT! We are 110% satisfied with it as a toad and a daily driver. We towed two legs with overnight stops and never disconnected the C-Max as we had pull thu sites. We had a single day pull of 5 hours and a day trip of 120 miles the day before the final single day leg home. Nice flat ground from Las Cruces to El Paso with no wind so we got 49.2 mpg on our little day trip overall. At one point we were over 50 mpg but the street driving in El Paso killed the mileage a little. The C-Max pulled easily, could not even feel it and we got trip mileage in the Motorhome of 9.4 going and 10.3 returning (Diesel Pusher). Mountains are bigger going than the return when crossing the Continental Divide, Southern Arizona to Northern New Mexico. Just a delight, nothing more to add. Not a single problem! Thanks to everyone on here for the help with the Base Plate install location in Tucson (All RV on Grant) and required battery charge line. Without the help the trip may not have been as easy.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

6 Replies

  • rocmoc's avatar
    rocmoc
    Explorer
    Aug 16, 2013
    willald wrote:
    rocmoc wrote:
    We installed a separate wiring harness with LED bulbs to the rear lights. Did not touch the Ford wiring harness in any way. A separate charge line to the engine battery keeps the battery charged. The toughest part was getting a cord that went from 7-way on the motorhome to 6-way on the C-Max. Found it online for under $50.


    Sounds good. However, you didn't answer the question I asked earlier - Did you add a diode to the charge line?

    I'm assuming (hoping!) you put a fuse on the charge line, on both ends as well.

    If you could not have found the 7 way to 6 way adapter, you could always have just bought a 6 way connector, installed it on the back of MH and wired it in. Thats what I pretty much had to do, as only other connector on the MH was a 6 way connector that was wired for use with a Remco Lube pump (we also tow DW's van, which has/requires a lube pump). Now, we have two 6 way connectors on the back of the MH: One wired for lube pump for DW's van, the other wired with a charge wire for my Fusion. :)

    Will


    Sorry about that. No diode but there are two fuses. One in the Motorhome side and one near the C-Max battery. The charge line is also wired in so it only works when the Motorhome ignition is turned on.

    I need the 7-way plug for my car trailer. I haul my Jeep with it when we do serious off-roading where I could break it. When in Mexico we pull the Jeep 4 wheels down and simply use a 4-way plug setup. C-Max is only for the States.

    rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
  • willald's avatar
    willald
    Explorer II
    Aug 15, 2013
    rocmoc wrote:
    We installed a separate wiring harness with LED bulbs to the rear lights. Did not touch the Ford wiring harness in any way. A separate charge line to the engine battery keeps the battery charged. The toughest part was getting a cord that went from 7-way on the motorhome to 6-way on the C-Max. Found it online for under $50.


    Sounds good. However, you didn't answer the question I asked earlier - Did you add a diode to the charge line?

    I'm assuming (hoping!) you put a fuse on the charge line, on both ends as well.

    If you could not have found the 7 way to 6 way adapter, you could always have just bought a 6 way connector, installed it on the back of MH and wired it in. Thats what I pretty much had to do, as only other connector on the MH was a 6 way connector that was wired for use with a Remco Lube pump (we also tow DW's van, which has/requires a lube pump). Now, we have two 6 way connectors on the back of the MH: One wired for lube pump for DW's van, the other wired with a charge wire for my Fusion. :)

    Will
  • rocmoc's avatar
    rocmoc
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2013
    We installed a separate wiring harness with LED bulbs to the rear lights. Did not touch the Ford wiring harness in any way. A separate charge line to the engine battery keeps the battery charged. The toughest part was getting a cord that went from 7-way on the motorhome to 6-way on the C-Max. Found it online for under $50.

    rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
  • willald's avatar
    willald
    Explorer II
    Aug 15, 2013
    ..Glad to hear its working out good for you. Ours (Fusion hybrid) has, too. :)

    We've been on 5 trips so far with our Fusion Hybrid, and its been great as well. Like you said, very easy and simple to tow, and unbelievable mileage when driving it.

    Yep, 49 mpg is definitely possible with Ford's newer hybrids, if you aren't too much of a 'lead foot'. I've seen several folks question Ford's mileage rating of 47, but it is quite possible to get that and more with these vehicles. I average about 48-49 going to work and back with it every day. The trick is, as you know, to keep it in EV mode as much as possible. Long, flat stretches like you mentioned would definitely help you do that.

    I can't remember - Did you install a diode on your charge line going to the Cmax? I did not put in a diode, still not sure if I'm going to or not. Still not sure if its really necessary. I do have it fused on both sides (an absolute must, IMO), I'm probably going to leave it at that.

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